5 Minutes on Taking The Hierarchy Out Of Decision-Making
Hierarchy is what we know.
It’s how most of our organizations, teams and systems are set up. It is big and entrenched. So while we might agree it’s time to move away from hierarchy, at least in part, it’s hard to know where to begin.
Let’s begin with one thing. Decision-making.
I love studying different structures (yes, structures other than hierarchy do exist!).
And as I read and learn, I’ve been looking for ways to make the shift away from hierarchy. Away from the top-down/boss-led decision-making towards more collective decision-making.
I found some great ideas along the way.
They come from different practices and methods for organizing work. Below I'm going to share ideas from these three resources:
Sociocracy (“We the People" by John Buck et al.)
Reinventing Organizations (“Reinventing Organizations” by Frederic LaLoux, pp 68-72)
Liberating Structures ("The Surprising Power of Liberating Structures" by Lipmanowicz and McCandless).
Let’s get to the practical ideas.
Here are four practical ways to help us take the hierarchy out of decision-making.
Taking hierarchy out of decision-making using Sociocracy:
Practice 1: If you have a senior leadership team, for example with a CEO, CFO, Chief Program Officer, invite a representative from a leadership layer below to join the team. In this example, you might invite a director level person to the team. Clarify the representation and communication role of that person. Make sure they are an equal member of the team in terms of decision-making.
Practice 2: Try using CONSENT decision-making rather than CONSENSUS decision-making. What does that mean? When there is an important decision to make, go around the team at critical decision-making junctures and ask if there are any paramount objections. A paramount objection is more than just “I don’t like it.” It should be backed up with a reasoned explanation for the objection. If there are any, ask, “What do you need to come along?”
Taking the hierarchy out of decision-making using Reinventing Organizations:
Practice 3: Spread decision-making across the organization. Allow decisions, even about spending resources, by anyone, at any level, if they follow this “Advice Process”:
Seek advice from 1) people who have expertise about the topic and 2) from those who will be meaningfully affected by the decision.
The decision-maker has to consider advice seriously.
The bigger the decision, the more advice should be sought before making the decision.
Taking the hierarchy out of decision-making using Liberating Structures:
Practice 4: You can change the decision-making process at your next meeting by trying the 1, 2, 4, ALL method from Liberating Structures. You can find the details of the process HERE. It’s an inclusive decision-making process designed to generate more and better ideas partly by diminishing the power differentials in the group and naturally building toward consensus. Sounds like taking the hierarchy out of decision-making to me!
What do you think? Could you try any of these practices at your organization, on your team or in your department? How have you tried to take the hierarchy out of decision-making?